Teddy Bridgewater will attend tonight's Wild-Chicago game

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will get his first taste of Minnesota hockey on Friday night. …Well actually, his first taste of a hockey game.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson visited with the 32nd overall pick after his press conference this afternoon and invited him to Game 4 between the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks at Xcel Center. Growing up in Miami, Bridgewater said he’s never been to a hockey game before even with the Florida Panthers in the metropolitan area.

Before that, Bridgewater answered questions from the media, including the unfair comparisons he received during the draft process.

“I would say the comparison to Willie Beamon; that was pretty harsh,” Bridgewater said. “But everything happens for a reason. Like I said, you can't control what's being said.”

Bridgewater said he’ll use the first round slide as motivation during his career. He had a poor Pro Day because he didn’t wear gloves, which Bridgewater said he started wearing at Louisville to help grip the ball.

“It was a decision that I made and you can best believe that I'll continue to wear my gloves,” Bridgewater said.